The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-06-09

wv. l.. Jones in Southern Cultivator')
Having finished planting the main
crops and got them well under way, the
work of continued cultivation will alb
sorb most of the time and attention OF
the farmer. If the seasons during May,
in any given section, have been propiti-
GUS, the main object in view in cultivat-
ing the crop will be to keep the surface
soil in light, friable condition. Tho un-
thinking Iaborer conceives that tho chief
end of plowing and hoeing is to prevent
the weeds from choking the crop. To
such man (perhaps there are many
such) the grass and weeds are q blessing
in disguise--compelling him to give the
cultivation which would be needed, even
in the absence Of such a blessing. Deep
plowing of growing crops is not now in
order, excepting, of course, late-planted
fields not before well plowed. We want
to induce moderately rapid and health
full growth Of the stalks of corn and cot
ton. Therefore the roots Of the plants
should not be torn and broken more
tnan is absolutely necessary. The upper
I nch or two of the soil should be kept
open and loose. The crust which forms
after o rain prevents the easy access of
Tho air above-laden with plant food in
he form Of carbonic acid and nitrogen
md should be broken as often as may
20 found expedient, not less than once
IN every ten days or two weeks. The
layer of soft mellow soil that is left be-
hind the cultivating implement acts very
decidly as q mulching to the layer below
in which the roots are penetrating in
every direction. Such layer of loose
soil is n poor conductor of heat and
therefore protects the roots of the crop
from the too fervid and scorchiug rays
of the sun; and the interstices are not
tino and close enough to act as capillaries
in bringing up the moisture from the
soil about the roots to be evaporated and
lost, as would be the case if tho crust
were permitted to remain undisturbed.
1t should be the aim, therefore, to go
over crop as rapidly as possible after a
good season of rain and to keep the sur
face as constantly as possible in this
loose, open condition. How often a
crop should be plowed over is, rs already
limited, question of eXpedioncy. While
1t is true that crop growing on poor
land but lightly fertilized will receive a
greater ratio of benefit from frequent
and thorough cultivation than crop
growing on rich or well-fcrtilizod soil,
yet it pays best to give the naturally rich
or the highly fertilized land the prefer
cnce-the best and most frequent cult
vation. We doubt not there are many
fields already planted that would give
better returns Qess loss) if they should
receive no cultivation at all.
RAPID CULTIVATION.
The implements used in the South in
cultivating the crops arc generally de-
fective in the respect that they are too
smal--they do not get over the crop fast
enough. A ight-rupning II to IS inch
sweep does not fully tax the capacity of
o stout mule to say nothing of the smaller
shovel and scooter, still so much used.
The Southern farmer does not fully ap.
preciate the advantages of wide spread
ing cultivators and harrows. Among the
number Of expanding, adjustable cult
vators, on wheels or otherwise, that arc
SO generally used in the North and West,
we ought to be able to find one that will
answer our purpose better than the
sweep and heel-scrape. A cotton middle
should be cleaned out and stirred from
row to row at one through trip-a corn
row at not more than two. There is GER
talnly an unnecessary consumption of
time and travel when from seven to nine
furrows are given to each three-foot cot
ton row, in the course of the season, as
Is usually done, employing the time of
an able'bodied hand and mule.
Several years ago, while Watching the
plowing of field of cotton with 24-inch
sweeps-two burrows to the middle-we
were struck with the fact that, in making
the return, or second furroW, the bic
sweep was doing substantially little more
orglAal work than mighthaVe been done
by three-inch garden hoe. The creator
part of the cutting edge of tho sweep was
tapping over and passing along the fur
row run just few moments before To
remedy this on the spot we directed the
plowman to side "by tho row." and skip
every other row.. Q. side both sides of
every other row. The result was gain
of just one.half the time, ana doing the
Work-so far as merely stirring the soil
was concerned--almoht rs perfectly as if
two burrows had been run in each mid
die. This saving OF time made it po, ST.
bile to stir the soll-practic@ily the entire
cullhSC-bHlGC 1lS Ollcu us DtIOrC With
precisely tho same labor. OF course at
the next plowing the rows not sided be-
fore received the special attention, tho
others being left. We were so pleased
with the plan that it was adopted as q
permanent resort, especially when it was
desl rable. to go over the crop very rapid
IiSS ~ as Immediately after heavy rain.
Inc principle involved is moro or less
applicable to the cultivation OF wider
rows, and the plan may be modified or
suspended according to circumstances,
1t Is equally applicable to anv of the
cultlVators which do not straddie the
row SO as to plow both sides of it. An An
implement designed to run astride thn
rows and side both sides perfectIv ia ' a
desideratum in the earlier STAGES of . 3ho a
crop. But in the absence of sEcb . onI' o
tiyator the plan above detailed win ofton
be found very oxpedient. The TIM
honored rule of plowing over the cron
every three weeks has but little TO re-,
commend it except its observance will
prevent the absolute loss Of the crop. IF
but three plowings are to be given to the
corn crop it is better to somewhat delay